Omaha daily bee., 1887-01-18

The principle of arbitration, as a
means of settling issues between en-
ployers and employees, has not yet had a
fair and thorough trial in this country.
While the character of The principle is
of course well understood by everybody
of ordinary intelligence, there is still
something to be learned regarding the
best method of applying it. We cannot,
in all respects, follow the systems that
have been successful in England and
elsewhere, for the obvious reason that
there is different class of people here
to deal with, or rather our people hold
different views from those of Europe and
are governed by different infucn ccs.
Probably the aggregate results of arbitra-
ton, or attempts at arbitration, in this
country, would not make an entirely
favorable showing for the principle, but
it has still had some notable successes,
which warrant the belief that ultimately
it will be of general application, and that
failure will be the exception.
1t is not wholly encouraging to learn
that the creation of q state board of arbi-
tration in New York has not been so
fruitful of good results as was hoped
for, but the experience affords lesson in
the application of the principle that may
be profitable. The board was created as
n sort of appellate court which was
to hear and pass upon issues carried
up from local bodies constituted volun-
tarily by mutual agreement of the par.
ties at issue. This plan has been wholly
imperative, not single case contem-
plated by the law having gone to the
board. The explanation is found in the
fact that parties to dispute that requires
arbitration for settlement are found in
too many instances so far apart, so full
OF feeling, and so hostile, that they will
not, of their own motion, come together
and choose members of local tribunal
to whose judgment they will be willing
to submit. On the other hand the work
ing of the board in reverse order, without
the law and clothed with only the pres
tige of having been created by the state
for purposes of arbitration, has accom-
plished much. The services of the board,
whether called or rendered, have IN all
cases and by all parties been received
with courtesy and consideration, and
where accepted the decisions have been
respected. Tho invarable disposition
has been to allow matters to go directly
to the state board for arbitration, rather
than to a board of local selection. 1t is
believed that the existence of the board
has had a good moral effect in restrain
ing dispositions on the one hand to exact
too much of employees, and on the other
to strike without justifying cause against
employers.
The conclusion of the board from its
experience is that it should be empow
cred to both mediate and arbitrate, with
original jurisdiction and action in all
eases of grievances or disputes between
employers and employed, so as to be able
to initiate means of settlement 1t could
thus bring TO bear directly upon this
class of controversies the sovereign au.
thority of the state, which either party
to the dispute would ordinarily be will
ing TO submit their cause to and would re.
spect. The suggestion is that it is neces-
sary to the successful application of this
principle that it'shall be asfree as possible
from compicating and dilatory methods
and especially from all red-tape con-
dtions. The most direct and expeditions
way in which labor issues can be settled,
having due regard for the rights of
both parties to them, is the desirable
way. Undoubtedly the experience of
the New York board of arbitration may
be safely accepted for the guidance of
other states in which legislation on this
subject may be contemplated, and in
time most of the states may find SINH
lar provision eXpedent.